Neal dives into a secluded pool hoping to find release for his aching body and his troubled mind. Instead, he finds Saul. The scribe is everything Neal could dream of -- and yet he knows he dares not pursue his desires, for Saul is a Scribe.
Saul wants Neal, but not in servitude. Even a slave can make choices, and Neal chooses to make love to the man who opens his mind -- and his heart.Excerpt: This e-book file contains sexually explicit scenes and adult language which some may find offensive and which is not appropriate for a young audience. Changeling Press E-Books are for sale to adults, only, as defined by the laws of the country in which you made your purchase. Please store your files wisely, where they cannot be accessed by under-aged readers.

Moonlight strokes the rocks and vegetation bracketing the waterfall with its ghostly fingers. Crystal clear water tumbles from one shallow pool to another, tugged down by gravity's inexorable grip. Flowers bend in the gentle breeze, and nocturnal creatures add to nature's nightly chorus as they go about their lives. It is perfect. It is peaceful.

It is a place where possibilities are born... although it would take me some time to realize it.

Although I've travelled past this location many times before, this particular spot is unfamiliar to me. It is, however, a welcome sight. I am weary and need a place to rest for the night. The pool looks so inviting. Perhaps a swim before bedding down would help erase the strains of the day.

Rushing water stifles my tired groan as I remove my silks. Little more than scraps of black fabric to cover the most male part of me, held together by a single braided strand of rope. Even so, I treat them with care for they are all I have to shield me against the elements so I set them on a rock beside the water.

The journey to this place, this moment in time, has not been an easy one. My body bears the scars of battles fought, some still fresh. See there, across my wrist, the lines of red? A demon who nearly bereft me of my life left those marks with his razor sharp claws. I can't decide whether to praise the gods or curse them for sending the district's healer along to save me when they did.

My spirit is equally marred. Hope has crawled into some dark corner of my soul. I dine on regrets and guilt, a meal that doesn't sustain a man of thirty-eight for very long. And yet, here I am, still living and breathing. I don't know why.

I ponder this as I move toward the edge of the lowest pool. The water is warmer than I expect given the lack of the sun's warming rays, and I find myself drawn into its embrace. At its deepest, it rises no higher than my waist. I swim the breadth of it several times before finding a rock near the middle to sprawl on.

My limbs dangle loosely, toying with the surface, and I stare up at the heavens with the three moons of Trinity hanging low in the sky, searching for answers.

This is how he must have first seen me, looking like some debauched sprite fallen to ground.

I take no notice of the stranger in my midst at first. Slowly, he colors my world. Sound grows clearer, flowers perfume the night air, and everything around me begins to hum with a vibrancy as though it's newly awakened to life.

I sit up and spy a ripple of midnight blue, just a shade paler than the sky, along the edge of the pool. He stops moving, and his cloak settles around him. Just as my surroundings burst into full life, so does he. Dark blue cloth wraps his rugged frame from neck to knee. His mahogany hair curls back from his face. Black boots and gloves cover his feet and hands. Though a handsome man by any rational person's account, I remain unfazed.

Until I reach his eyes.

How is it possible to see one's soul through their eyes? It's a myth I never believed until I met this stranger. Although I've always been partial to blue, it's not the rich color that holds me captive.

It has little to do with the expression on his face, which seems faintly amused at coming upon me bathing in the moonlight as he had. Nor is it the air of danger and sexual prowess that he exudes. No, it is the reflection of a lifetime of experiences, good and bad, hovering in those blue, blue eyes that I cannot look away from.

Oddly, I'm slightly ashamed of my nakedness for the first time in my humble life. He is the only Master in sight; I am merely a servant boy. I have nothing that he does not give me, including my life. Appearing naked before him should be as natural as breathing and yet I long for some form of cover, as if his eyes might delve into me too deeply otherwise.

Slowly I recall my duty and slip from the stone, back into the water. I swim across to him, kneeling in the shallows when I reach the water's edge. Still I cannot look away from his face and those startling eyes. "Master, may this boy be of service to you?"

I admit I'm not often at a loss for words, but that request stopped all thought from forming in my brain. A Master wants me, a slave, to refer to him by name? Unheard of! "Master, are you sure?"

He laughs and the sound is more cleansing to me than the crystal clear water. "When we are alone, yes. I want to hear my name from your lips."

He is Master. I am slave. I shouldn't question his requests. And yet... "But Master, I am only a boy. I have no right to speak your name."

"You have whatever rights I give you, and I grant you permission to use my name." He cocks his head to the side in consideration, then adds, "For tonight."

His expression hasn't changed, but there's something in his manner that convinces me he is serious. I didn't wish to cross him, for even one of the scribe caste could be dangerous if provoked. "Yes, Mas -- Yes, Saul. May this boy be of service to you?"

"Perhaps it is I who am here to serve you," he suggests with a smile.

A great and mighty Master would lower himself to serve a humble boy? It had never been done before in my knowledge and I can only think of one reason for him to suggest it. "Is this a test for me, to see if I will behave properly?"

"No, Neal. It is merely a suggestion."

It's the first of many possibilities he shows me this night. Even now my body trembles with the memories of that first spectacular glimpse of what could be.

"How would you... Boy can... This is not..." No thought would complete itself in my brain before a new one birthed.

Saul laughs again as he presses his finger to my lips. "Easy, Neal. Do not hurt yourself."

I search the depth of his eyes for some explanation for what is happening. All I find are more questions. "Saul..."

Blurb:
On vacation Geri and Dee go swimming in a river, unaware that it's actually a portal to the planet Amazurn in a distant galaxy. They awake on an island where women lusting after rare alpha males indulge in sexual fantasies and gladiatorial sports.
In a world ruled by women, where dominant males are banished to the Alpha Islands, twins Iron and Rock earn their living as gladiators. They're training when they notice two women drowning in the sacred lake and dive in to help.
Saved by the two brothers, Geri and Dee can't resist their gorgeous rescuers, but on Amazurn, if a woman wants to keep her heart intact, she should never love a gladiator.Excerpt:This e-book file contains sexually explicit scenes and adult language which some may find offensive and which is not appropriate for a young audience. Changeling Press E-Books are for sale to adults, only, as defined by the laws of the country in which you made your purchase. Please store your files wisely, where they cannot be accessed by under-aged readers.

Geri stretched out on a flat, sun-warmed rock by the edge of the lake. It had been too long since she had a chance to relax like this. Due to her career she spent most of her time in the city, but she enjoyed vacationing in the country. She and her friend, Dee, had been planning this weekend for months. It was almost like they were kids again -- no business worries, no hustle and bustle and best of all no men.

Geri had split up with her fiancé over a year ago and she still felt like she'd just made parole. Thinking back on her life to when she'd first noticed the magnetism of the opposite sex, she wished it had never happened. Men were nothing but trouble. In her experience, they were all high-maintenance egomaniacs who ignored you when they had you and stalked you when you finally kicked them to the curb.

"Geri! Hey you should come in the water. It's great," shouted Dee from where she swam several feet from the shore.

"No thanks. All I want is some sun and sleep," Geri said.

"Nothing like a swim to wake you up in the morning."

"I just said I don't want to wake up. I want to go back to sleep."

Dee had always been the jock. Her idea of a vacation was waking at the crack of dawn and jogging through the woods. At that time, Geri had still been curled in her sleeping bag, grateful that she didn't have to fight traffic to get to a meeting on time. Not that Geri didn't like to get in some exercise for her general health, but Dee took workouts to an extreme, which probably explained why she had once been among the best female mixed martial artists in the country.

Geri once again closed her eyes and smiled, enjoying the feel of the sun on her bikini-clad body. It had been so long since she'd worn a bikini. Brandon had made her feel so self-conscious, always gawking at the scrawny model types. She'd finally said, "Fuck it, if that's what you want then go get it, pal and while you're at it stay out of my life." Geri had curves. She had brains and it was about time she started using them in her personal life, not just in business. It was only after they'd broken up that she learned he'd not only ogled other women, but had a wife and another girlfriend hidden away.

Dee had been her biggest supporter during that depressing time when she'd learned the truth about her fiancé.

"Hey! Help! Geri!"

Geri shot to a sitting position and stared toward the middle of the lake where Dee struggled in the churning water. Strangely, the rest of the water was calm.

"Shit!" Geri sprang to her feet and jumped into the river, swimming as fast as she could toward her friend. Her heart pounded and the thought crossed her mind that if Dee was in trouble and she was the athletic one, how the hell was she going to fight the water and rescue her?

The current grabbed hold of Geri and she tried to fight it. By now she was close enough to touch Dee. The women reached for each other before they were sucked beneath the surface.

Geri panicked. She couldn't breathe. The water dragged her so fast that she was forced to close her eyes and spin in the cold, wet blackness.

They were going to die. She knew it.

Then a tremendous forced hurled them past the surface of the water. She kicked her feet, gasped and choked. Blinking water from her eyes she glanced around and saw Dee a short distance away. They screamed as the force of the rough water pushed them downriver. Somewhere in the back of her mind, past the terror and confusion, it struck Geri that their surroundings had changed completely. Most of the trees had disappeared, replaced by grassy fields. She thought she saw a group of half-naked men fighting on the shore, but she didn't have time to stare. Just ahead the river dropped severely to what had to be a waterfall.

She screamed louder, as if that would help. At least it made her feel better.

* * *

Iron danced and ducked, dodging his brother's powerful punches and kicks that could easily knock him into oblivion, should they actually connect with his body. This sparring match was a classic example of speed versus power, but that's what made them such an unstoppable team -- they were the best of the best in their branch of the gladiatorial games.

"I'm going to knock your teeth out when I get you, you skinny bastard!" Rock growled, jabbing his fist toward Iron's face. Shit. That was almost too close.

Iron danced around Rock and curled his lip in a sneer that never failed to piss his brother off. "When you get me? You mean if you get me, lardass!"

Taunting Rock further, Iron darted behind him and kicked him in the butt. Rock spun and this time his fist grazed Iron's cheek, staggering him. He recovered quickly and attacked Rock with several speedy kicks that Rock blocked and dodged.

Iron was about to shout another jibe, but the sound of screaming brought their match to a halt. The brothers glanced toward the river and saw that a small boat belonging to a couple of females had toppled over in the fierce water. The women screamed, then disappeared beneath the surface.

Rock bolted for the water, Iron close behind him.

"Stupid women!" Iron snapped. "What the hell were they doing out there anyway?"

"Hurry up!" Rock shouted, leaping into the water. "I see them ahead."

"They're moving toward the cascade!"

Iron and Rock swam hard, fighting the current. Good thing they were accustomed to swimming in the river as part of their endurance training.

As Rock reached for one of the drowning women, Iron swam for the other and managed to grab hold of her. They headed for the shore and when they reached the shallow water, all four dropped to their knees, panting.

"Hey." Iron brushed the woman's long, dark blond hair aside as she coughed and sputtered. "Are you all right?"

"Yeah," she gasped, lifting her blue gaze to his.

A strange feeling swept over him and his cock and gut tightened simultaneously. She was the cutest female he'd ever seen and very different. Most Amazurian women were tall and stout. She was rather short and though she wasn't stout, she certainly had curves. Her swimming attire was also strange.

It took him a moment to realize she was staring at him with the same stunned expression.

Finally, she said, "Thanks for pulling me out of there. I don't know what happened. One minute I was swimming and the next there was a whirlpool and..." She glanced around, her brow furrowed. "And where the hell am I?"

"You don't know?"

She must have struck her head on one of the rocks. Gently feeling her scalp, he asked, "Does that hurt?"

"No." Again those lovely blue eyes stared into his and he dropped his hand. No matter how innocent she looked, she was still a woman and no female could be trusted. "My friend and I were camping and...we couldn't have been dragged this far downriver. There was no place like this in our area. What is this place?"

She glanced toward the gladiators on the distant training field and the barracks on the hillside.

"Dee, what's going on?" asked the dark-haired woman whom Rock had pulled out of the water.

"I'd kinda like to know myself," Rock said, wiping water from his face.

"I don't know, Geri, but I think I'm seeing double," said the pretty blond -- Dee -- as she glanced from Iron to Rock.

"No you're not, unless I am too," Geri said.

Rock's brow furrowed. "You know, these women don't look at all like the scientists who went out in the boat earlier."

Iron couldn't disagree with that. Then he recalled something that might turn out to be important. "Weren't they doing research about a great hole in this lake?"

Wrinkling her nose, Dee asked, "What's a great hole?"

"A very rare portal between two worlds," Iron explained, glancing from one woman to the other. "You're both bleeding from the rocks. Come on." He stood and offered Dee his hand. She grasped it and he tugged her to her feet.

His cock stirred at the sight of her small, shapely body.

"We'll get you cleaned up and then try to figure out what's going on," Rock said, reaching for Geri's hand.

She jerked away from him, rose to her feet and said, "We don't even know who you guys are. Just tell us if there's a telephone around here."

A what?

Iron glanced at Rock who looked just as perplexed by the woman's strange request.

Both women looked even more surprised, then quirky smiles played around their lips.

"You're kidding, right?" Geri asked.

These were the most peculiar women they'd ever met. What was their problem?

"You can call me Rock and him Iron for short. Let's go."

"Why not?" Dee shrugged. "Doesn't look like we have much choice."

Iron led the way toward the house he and Rock shared. Living in the barracks would have been cheaper, but far more restrictive. Sure, they were saving to buy one-way tickets off Amazurn, but they weren't going to sacrifice everything in the meantime. In the barracks, men lived bellybutton to ass. Lights out two hours after sundown. Bad laundry facilities and no kitchen privileges so it was either eat in the city or choke down mess hall food. With Iron's strict diet, he wanted to enjoy his food, not spend his calories on crap.

"You're Geri, right?" Rock asked and Iron knew his brother was merely trying to start a conversation with the brunette.

Iron raised his eyes to the heavens. He knew when his brother was interested in a woman and there was no missing the signs. Rock's lips had curved into a grin and he straightened his broad shoulders even more.

Not again.

Rock couldn't seem to get it through his head that women were nothing but trouble. He always gave them the benefit of the doubt and ended up getting kicked in the teeth for it. Iron was the opposite. Screw him once and that was the only chance you got. He made a point to learn from his mistakes the first time, and that was regarding every part of his life, not just the opposite sex.

Geri took a few steps, then moaned softly and limped.

"Are you all right?" Dee asked, approaching her friend, but Rock had already slipped an arm around the brunette.

Glancing at him warily, Geri said, "I must have sprained my ankle."

"Can you make it?" Dee asked.

"Like you said, what choice do we have?" Geri limped a few more steps before Rock swept her into his arms.

"What the hell are you doing?" she demanded, though she instinctively grasped his neck.

Summer's starting in the post-modern hip Los Angeles, and Elves and Humans alike line up outside of Damon's to get tickets for the event of the season: the striptease contest, King of Damon's. Hot, steamy, gorgeous creatures taking their clothes off. Endless possibilities to get laid. Does it get any better than this?

Thomas doesn't think so. Proud of his collection of notches on the bedpost, he enters the contest with no other goal than fuck his way through the rest of the contestants. His game comes to an abrupt halt, however, when he's faced with his first rejection. Euriel is simply not interested... or so he says. What does Euriel really want? Will Thomas be able to give it to him?Excerpt:This e-book file contains sexually explicit scenes and adult language which some may find offensive and which is not appropriate for a young audience. Changeling Press E-Books are for sale to adults, only, as defined by the laws of the country in which you made your purchase. Please store your files wisely, where they cannot be accessed by under-aged readers.

"Do you know what day it is?"

Alyan didn't know what day it was. Actually, he didn't want to know what time it was. He didn't care what day it was because, come to think of it, it couldn't be any day, because the day had not started. "Mfngh," he muttered eloquently as bright, mean light was thrown in his face.

"Alyan! Come on, it's nearly 8 AM."

Alyan groaned and tried to shuffle deeper underneath the covers, clinging to the remains of sleep with all the stubbornness of an Elfling.

The strong smell of coffee penetrated his sleep addled brain. Alyan sighed and rolled over, cracking one eye open and shooting the source of all the commotion a mean glare.

"Morning, sunshine."

"Morning, asshole." Alyan fumbled with the covers and tried to pull them over his head, but Damon wouldn't have any of it. He yanked the sheet back and grinned at Alyan, thoroughly enjoying their little song and dance.

Alyan thoroughly hated it. He actually hated anyone that could spring out of bed like they hadn't worked ten hours straight the previous night and look just as beautiful as they would've looked after a weekend in a spa resort. And of course, Damon belonged to that category.

Alyan hated him so much. For real.

"Come on," Damon ruffled Alyan's hair and sat down on the bed, waving the hot coffee cup under his nose. "We have lots to do today."

"You should've thought of that before fucking me unconscious last night," Alyan shot back, but he did grudgingly accept the coffee, downing it in one go and nearly choking on it when it scorched his throat.

"Complain, complain." Damon waited patiently as Alyan coughed and spluttered on his coffee. "That's all you do."

"I don't complain about the sex," Alyan clarified. "I do complain about being tossed out of bed before the sun rises." Damon silently and eloquently pointed at the bright light shining in the sky. "It's a figure of speech. Whatever. I'm too tired to argue."

Damon leant in and kissed the frown off Alyan's face, his hand running down Alyan's cheek to his neck, thumb rubbing in the hollow of his throat. Alyan sighed and parted his lips, allowing Damon's tongue to sneak past. There was a slow, dreamlike quality to their kiss, as though all the urgency from Damon's wakeup call had melted away.

Alyan sighed, struggling to keep his eyes open, drinking in the beauty of Damon's face, the way his eyelashes fluttered on his high cheekbones, the pale tone of his skin, the gentle caress of his hair over the sides of his jaw. He was so stupidly handsome that Alyan almost couldn't bear to stare at him.

Damon's fingertips skimmed down the sides of Alyan's chest, dipping just below the waistband of his pants, finding warm skin. Alyan looped his other arm around Damon's neck. Alyan tangled his hand into Damon's hair, pulling him closer, suddenly much keener on being awake. "You taste like caramel," Alyan whispered, dazed, his grin lopsided and warm.

"Pancakes." Damon kissed his lips again, shifting on the bed so that he could throw one leg over Alyan's hips, straddling him --

"Argh!"

Hot, hot, hot hot hot hot motherfuckinghot!

Coffee sprayed on the sheets, on Alyan's chest and general crotch area -- and go with Alyan on this, okay? You don't want hot beverages anywhere near that very vital section of an Elf's body. Not if you want to get laid anytime in the next century, that is.

Damon jumped on the spot, getting out of his stained PJs and trying to work in some damage control. Alyan merely sat with his face between his hands and slowly died of awkward.

It had to be said -- everyone who thought Elves were that kind of cool, aplomb race? Well, they never met Alyan. He had a knack for working himself into embarrassing corners, and even after over a year and half spent living with Damon, his boyfriend's cool did not rub off on him.

Even if technically it had been Damon knocking into the coffee, it was Alyan's cup, and it was Alyan who hadn't a) put it down or b) finished it when he could. He was red hot all over, and when he felt the bed sink down with Damon's weight, he barely dared to peer between his fingers to where Damon was sitting, smiling at him.

"I'm such a klutz."

"No, you're not. And it was my fault in the first place."

Alyan sighed. "You know you don't have to say it --"

"I'm not just saying it. I mean it. I knocked the cup over. I was swept up in the moment, one might say."

Damon pried Alyan's hands off his face and kissed the joined fingertips with a smirk. Alyan felt his heart trip and fall, all over, for the beautiful creature in bed with him. He coughed and sort of looked down at their coffee-stained sheets, then back up in Damon's still grinning face. "So. Um. What's up? I mean, not -- you know, not... in a double entendre meaning or anything like that. I mean, just -- uh -- why did you wake me up?"

"Hm? Oh, yes." Damon bounced excitedly on the bed like a toddler, his grin widening. "Well, do you know what day it is today?"

"Uhhh..." Alyan raked his brains for a couple of seconds, but came up with nothing. "Friday?"

"Wrong! I mean, yes. It's Friday. But that's not what I was asking." He bounced again. "It's Summer Solstice!"

Well, fuck. He had completely forgotten. Having lived amongst humans for so long, Alyan had grown accustomed to their celebrations much more than his own race's traditions. "Oh," was all he could say.

"Yes, oh!" Damon rolled his eyes at him. "Come on. Grab a shower and get dressed. We're gonna be leaving in five."

"Leaving? What -- where to?"

"To the club, of course," Damon quickly stole a kiss from his lips and bounced off the bed. "We have tons of shit to get ready."

Alyan stared at the spot from where Damon had disappeared for a moment before shrugging and finally getting out of bed. After the coffee incident, the least he could do was to go with the flow on this one. Something told him he would've known a lot more than he needed to know by the end of the morning anyway. Pointless to worry about that now.http://www.changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=1337

Blurb:
Charlene owns Charly's Chocolate Factory where she produces premier sexual favors in all kinds of chocolate flavors. She loves her small chocolate shop and business is booming, if only she had a little somethin' somethin' to share her life with...

Linc manages the Dewitt building for the owners and has been charged with his most distasteful task yet. Get Charly's Chocolate Factory out or just plain get out. And it's not just the chocolate that he loves at the shop, but the chocolate flavored beauty that runs the store as well. The attraction is undeniable. Especially one night when he wanders into the store to find Charlene elbow-deep in chocolate, the sweet flavors blending and coating her luscious skin. He just can't wait to lick it off. Lick it all off.Excerpt:This e-book file contains sexually explicit scenes and adult language which some may find offensive and which is not appropriate for a young audience. Changeling Press E-Books are for sale to adults, only, as defined by the laws of the country in which you made your purchase. Please store your files wisely, where they cannot be accessed by under-aged readers.

Linc had been avoiding his visit to Charly's Chocolate Factory for three days, five hours and thirty-seven minutes. No, he glanced at his watch, make that thirty-eight minutes.

Standing outside the shop, he glared at the displays of Luscious Lips, lip-shaped confections, and Cherry Berries, nipple-shaped chocolate-covered cherries, all of which had been deemed inappropriate by the building's new owners. Every item in Charly's was somehow lewd, crude and sensually delicious.

He didn't know from personal experience, of course, but all of the women in the office raved about her Peanut Penises, peanut sprinkled penis shaped candies... the peanuts, naturally, outlining the, ahem, head area. He wasn't a prude. Truly. But he usually preferred his bedroom toys to stay in the bedroom, where they belonged.

Well, there was no way around it. Charly, in all her confectioner's glory, was headed for the streets. No lease renewal, no extension, nothing. At the end of the month, she was getting the boot.

With a sigh, he tugged at the front door, the bell ringing at his entrance. A young man was wiping down the tables while a woman counted down the till at the counter. "Uh, sorry, sir, but we're closed." The young man sounded unsure, tentative, as if Linc would rip his head off for speaking.

He didn't look that scary, did he? He admitted that his size worked to intimidate some, but he'd never tried to strong arm anyone. "I'm looking for Charly. It's a personal matter."

"Oh." The man blushed. "Charly's in the back, working on tomorrow's orders. Go ahead, back there."

With a nod, Linc did as instructed, weaving his way around the tables and upended chairs while heading toward the sign that read "Employees Only." Once behind the curtain that cordoned off the bakery from the customer's area, Linc froze.

Back there, hiding behind the curtain, was a woman of amazing beauty. She had shoulder length black hair done up in teeny tiny braids. Her skin was the color of smooth milk chocolate. From the side he could see her light brown eyes sparkling as she mixed up a batch of some sort of chocolate confection, the mixture almost matching her skin. Her nose was pert, tipped up at the end, and her lips were the color of ripe berries, full and luscious and infinitely kissable.

Linc's gaze traveled further south, admiring the generous swell of her breasts, the tucked in line of her waist and the flare of her hips as she turned away from him. Her bottom was round and plump, perfect for grabbing and pounding into. Just plain perfect. Everything about her screamed "fuck me, hard and fast," yet at the same time, whispered "be gentle." He couldn't decide how he wanted her first.

His cock throbbed and ached in his four-hundred-dollar slacks, letting him know just how much he wanted this black beauty. He wanted, no, needed, her more than his next breath, needed her like he needed life. He remained still, watching as she poured ingredient after ingredient into the large double boiler on the enormous stove, mixing something that smelled heavenly and probably tasted even better. She dipped her finger into the mixture and licked off the chocolate that coated the tip. How he wanted to be that finger, that chocolate, anything to get into her mouth and relish the taste of her sweetness. She had to taste sweet and sultry and exotic. No woman could look as luscious as she did without tasting like chocolate and sunshine.

Her hips swayed to the beat of her song, moving to the music she created. His cock ached, wanted him to sidle up to her, scoot behind and grind his dick against her voluptuous ass. He belonged there, with her, next to her, by her side.

Never had he felt such a punch of lust in his gut -- like he just had to sink inside a woman, this woman, right now. There was something about her, something that made him primal and wanting and protective all at once. He wondered if there was something going on between this woman and that young man out in the eatery. Didn't matter. She'd be his before the night ended. And considering that it was already after eleven, he needed to get a move on.

He cleared his throat. "Excuse me?"

She squeaked and dropped her spoon into the chocolate she'd been mixing. "Shit. Just one sec."

He heard footsteps behind him and he turned his attention to the young woman shoving the curtain aside. "Night, Charly. See ya tomorrow."

Charly. Of course. The woman he had to have, at any cost, was Charly, owner of Charly's Chocolate Factory. And he'd been ordered to evict her.

Well, fuck me.

"You okay with Mr. --"

"Lincoln Robinson." He held his hand out to Charly and she took it in a firm grasp, shaking it like she meant it. Their first touch sent shudders of pleasure down his spine, sparking his interest even further than before. Yup, he wanted her. Bad.

Blurb:
After an abusive Master nearly beat her to death, submissive Lora Nelson turned her back on the lifestyle and escaped into a mundane existence. She works the night shift at a grocery store and lives in a run-down apartment, but she has her freedom and, more importantly, her dignity.

And then he shows up.

The mysterious stranger catches her unaware in her own apartment, and offers her a tantalizing choice -- let him reintroduce her to the world of BDSM on her terms. Now, Lora just has to decide if she has the courage to submit to a new Master, one who promises to chase away her shadows, and give her more than she could ever imagine.

Excerpt:This e-book file contains sexually explicit scenes and adult language which some may find offensive and which is not appropriate for a young audience. Changeling Press E-Books are for sale to adults, only, as defined by the laws of the country in which you made your purchase. Please store your files wisely, where they cannot be accessed by under-aged readers.

Lora went inside her apartment, locked the door behind her, tossed off her shoes, shed her coat, and dropped her purse. Her foyer light had burned out a few nights ago and she kept forgetting to change the bulb.

She shuffled into her bedroom already yanking her work shirt out from her black pants. All she wanted was a shower, a glass of wine, and some deep, dreamless sleep.

The next thing she knew, she'd been shoved against the wall. The right side of her face pressed against the smooth surface.

Her heart stuttered then started pounding fiercely.

The intruder held her wrists behind her back with one strong hand. The other hand grasped her shoulder.

Icy fear balled in her stomach. Oh, God. Had she just been thinking about how nothing scared her?

Her throat knotted and her mouth went dry.

"Y-you can have my purse," she said. "Take anything in the house. It's yours."

"Anything?" His breath ghosted over her cheek.

She didn't have much of value: a TV with a built-in DVD player, a jar full of change, a silver jewelry box inherited from her great-grandmother.

"Yes," she said hoarsely. "Anything."

"I want you."

Tears fell. Richard had always taken what he wanted. She hadn't been allowed to say no. Not ever. So, whatever this man did tonight had been done before. But it didn't mean he wouldn't hurt her, or make her feel all those terrible things she'd felt before. How much could the spirit take before it broke?

"Just get it over with," she whispered.

The hand on her neck drifted up to wipe the tears from her cheek.

"I've been watching you," he said. "Waiting for you. Sweet Lora. I know those thoughts you tuck away. The dark dreams you're afraid to reveal because of him. He was a bastard. He wanted your devotion. He wanted to possess you. You thought he would give you what you needed -- but he never gave, did he? He just took."

"Stop," she said. "Just... stop."

He was scaring her in an entirely different way now. An intruder who wanted her money or her physical submission was one thing. A man who plucked out her fears and needs from her own mind was something else.

He let go of her wrists then raised her arms above her head. He flattened her hands on the wall. He pushed fully against her, his arousal rubbing against her ass.

She sucked in a breath.

"Keep your hands on the wall," he commanded. "Nod if you understand."

She nodded. Her heart tripled its beat as the man slowly raised her shirt.

His lips traced the curve of her spine. When he reached the top band of her bra, he slid back down, his tongue flickering along her skin.

"You're a very good girl, Lora." He pressed against her again, his fingers sliding over her hips. "You are so luscious. So beautiful. Do you believe that?"

"No," she admitted.

"I'm proud of you for being honest," he said, approval ripe in his tone. "But I'm disappointed in your answer."

Her stomach squeezed. She swallowed the "I'm sorry," because she wouldn't apologize. The situation had turned into something surreal. She wondered if perhaps she had fallen asleep, and this was a dream.

"Will you accept a gift?"

"Do I have a choice?" she asked bitterly. What would this gift be? His cock ramming into her? She squeezed her eyes shut against another barrage of tears.

"You always have a choice, Lora."

She shouldn't even feel curiosity. She should be trying to think of a way to get free. How could she make him leave without hurting her or taking what little possessions she had? Her treacherous body was reacting to his male strength, to the command in his tone, and to the gentleness of his hands.

"I a-accept."

He wound something thin and soft around her neck. "Until tomorrow night," he said. "Sweet dreams."

Blurb:
After years of playing the field, Haydn has finally found his soul mate. Problem is, the well-endowed Cassie thinks all dragons are trouble and she has no intention of letting Hayden anywhere near her. He's going to have to do some fast talking to convince her he's the dragon of her dreams.

Excerpt:This e-book file contains sexually explicit scenes and adult language which some may find offensive and which is not appropriate for a young audience. Changeling Press E-Books are for sale to adults, only, as defined by the laws of the country in which you made your purchase. Please store your files wisely, where they cannot be accessed by under-aged readers.

Haydn laughed and draped his arm around Jackson's shoulders. "I don't think your fire companion is going to be too happy when you tell her about the dent you put in her new car!"

Jackson grinned, unrepentant. "Not to worry. I'll just give her a little of my special brand of loving and she'll forget to be mad at me." He pointed to a table at the far side of the packed barroom. "Looks like we're late. The guys already have a table."

They shouldered their way through the Friday night crowd at the Pagan's Corner, jostling good-naturedly with the other residents of Utopia Bay. Shifters, paranormals and humans all came to the local pub to have a good time, and the bouncers made sure racial tensions didn't get out of hand.

Haydn grabbed a chair and straddled it backward, resting his chin on his crossed arms. "So what's the plan for the night? It's been a bitch of a week at work and I'm raring for some action."

"May I take your orders, sirs?"

Haydn turned at the sound of that soft voice, and stared right into the prettiest pair of brown eyes he'd ever seen. Framed by soft brown skin and close clipped dark curls, those eyes bored a hole right to his heart. Unprecedented need exploded in his gut. His mated friends had always told him it would happen one day when he least expected it. He realized he was looking at his souler.

He let his gaze roam the rest of her ample charms while an appreciative smile crossed his lips. The quip rose to his tongue with the ease of years spent pursuing every female he could find. "Darling, I'd love to have you take my orders."

She didn't even blink, just raised one of those perfectly sculpted eyebrows and stared at him. He swore the temperature in the bar dropped ten degrees.

A couple of the guys whistled, and Jackson had the nerve to laugh out loud. "That one's not going to fall for any of your pat lines, Haydn, so you might as well order a drink. Cassie doesn't do dragons."

"A mug of whatever's on tap." Haydn kept his eyes lowered, struggling to keep the redness from creeping up his neck. He had a reputation as a player, and it had been a long time since a woman had stonewalled him quite that thoroughly.

"Same for me." Jackson tossed some money on the table.

Haydn watched her scribble the order down before she turned back to the bar. She held herself straight and proud, her wide hips sashaying beneath a calf-length denim skirt. He felt his cock jerk to attention at the thought of all that soft, warm flesh beneath him. Damn! He turned to Jackson. "What do you mean, she doesn't do dragons?"

"Hey, don't shoot the messenger." Jackson held his hand up in mock fear. "She's one of the humans that Egan's group, Bound for Freedom, managed to save. To say she's terrified of dragons would be putting it mildly. Can't say I blame her, those rogues are a mean bunch."

"Damn, that sucks." Haydn watched her load drinks onto the tray and head back toward their table. "I'll have to be real gentle with her."

Jackson stared at him as if he'd just grown a second head. "Are you crazy? That girl is never going to go out with you. What part of 'terrified of dragons' did you not get?"

Haydn smiled gently. "She's my fire companion. Of course she'll go out with me. She just needs to get used to the idea."

Across the table, another of his other friends shook his head in sympathy. "You think Cassandra is your fire companion? You've got your work cut out for you, man. I've heard some of Egan's stories, and they aren't pretty. You'll be lucky if she lets you get within ten feet of her front door."

Haydn watched the woman's ample bosoms sway enticingly while she wound her way back to their table. "You said her name is Cassie, Jackson. What else do you know about her?"

Jackson shook his head. "Not much. Her full name is Cassandra, but everyone calls her Cassie. Egan's group, Bound for Freedom, rescued her and she decided to stay here instead of returning to her home, wherever that was. She got this job right after her rescue, and cleaned out one of the cabins at the edge of town to live in." He paused, his brow furrowing with concentration. "I don't think she's dated anyone since Egan freed her, certainly not a dragon."

Haydn felt a knot he didn't even know he had relax in his gut. She didn't date. That was a good sign. It meant she was waiting for him, whether she knew it or not.

He smiled up at her when she reached their table. "Sorry for my rudeness earlier. You're just so pretty my brain didn't kick into gear." So far so good. She hadn't dumped the beer over his head yet. "Maybe when you get off shift, we could go grab a bite to eat?"

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Jackson roll his eyes. He obviously thought Haydn was nuts, but it didn't matter. All that mattered was his fire companion. She hesitated for a split second, and his heart leapt with hope.

"I don't think that would be wise, sir." Her voice had a musical lilt to it that resonated to the very center of his being. Her dark lashes swept down over her eyes, hiding her expression. She set the drinks down and turned to leave. He lifted his hand, intending to stop her, but let it fall.

Blurb:
Will this golden dragon-shifting lord win the game of love?
Lady Sabine knows that laughing golden eyes alone cannot keep her safe. Lord Berg has yet to prove himself worthy of her hand, failing every secret test she has given him. She issues one last challenge to the dragon shifter. If he succeeds, he will win her love. If he fails, she will walk away from him forever.Excerpt:This e-book file contains sexually explicit scenes and adult language which some may find offensive and which is not appropriate for a young audience. Changeling Press E-Books are for sale to adults, only, as defined by the laws of the country in which you made your purchase. Please store your files wisely, where they cannot be accessed by under-aged readers.

Twilight spread its dark fingers across the field as they gathered herbs. Her friend Moira had insisted upon this evening's foraging and Sabine had not argued, welcoming the diversion. Although every room was filled with suitors, the castle was achingly empty without her cousins Taja and Raaf.

And without her laughing lord.

She stared up at the near-full moon, expecting to see the silhouette of a dragon there. Would he ever return? Did she want him to return? He had failed her, running from the tournament as her father had run from battle.

"The Bride Hunt Moon rises this next night, cousin of my heart." Moira paused in her cutting of yarrow. "Many will find their husbands then."

It was a pagan ritual. Flimsy bonds were created without tests of character. "And many will find heartache." When they discovered that the men making them laugh could not keep them safe. "Would you give up your freedom?" Her friend followed the old ways.

"Nay." Moira lifted her filled basket. "I will be needed elsewhere on the morrow."

That Moira, a healer, was needed meant illness, injury, and death was coming. Sabine shivered. The castle was left nigh defenseless, their warriors battling the Ubel army to the south. "We should return."

Moira straightened, hands held out. A strange breeze blew, lifting her unbound black hair, the tendrils moving around her pale face as though they had a life of their own. Her emerald eyes blazed brightly. Then as suddenly as the wind had begun, it stopped. "Aye." The woman nodded. "It is time."

They entered the forest between the field and the castle. There was no fear of becoming lost. Moira was one with the night, and Sabine had played in this forest since she was a youth. They passed a circle of stone, the site of ancient sacrifices. Sabine's friend bent down, touched the stone, and smiled. "The golden dragon flies this night." Her voice was not her own. "He meets his mate here under the near Bride Hunt Moon."

She knew of only one golden dragon, Treu. Her laughing Lord Berg returned only to meet with another. Sabine's hands clenched. After she'd allowed him liberties she had never before given, he met with another. He was an inconstant creature.

They marched on in silence.

He had said she was the one, his destiny. Yet he courted, wooed another all the time he whispered sweet words in her ear. Who was this woman, this mate, he betrayed her with? Sabine stopped by a stream, bending to wash the dirt off her hands. Moira did the same.

"The night is warm," Moira murmured. "The water is cool."

Sabine met her gaze. "Will you bathe with me?" If they delayed their return, the woman, her rival, might pass this way. Curiosity burned at her.

"I have work to do." Her friend's smile was sad as she took Sabine's basket. "You bathe. I will go ahead."

Sabine hesitated, looking back over her shoulder in the direction of the ancient stone circle. To stay in the forest alone at night was dangerous, but she needed to know.

"It is safe," Moira assured her. "You will come to no harm. Indeed" -- she grinned -- "you will be more protected here than in the castle keep." She gave Sabine a hug. "I bid you well, cousin of my heart."

Sabine was not well. Her heart was breaking. But she drew herself up; this slight pain would save her from a later more brutal fate. Once she saw with her own eyes how laughing eyes could not keep her safe -- she positioned herself behind a giant oak tree at the edge of the stone -- she would not succumb to them again. She would make a match with a strong, fearless warrior, a man who would fight to protect her. Sabine stared at the sky. She would not dream of dragons and laughing golden eyes.

The forest sprang to life around her. Frantic night creatures rustled in the brush. A stag leaped past her, his brown eyes glazed with fear. Seconds later, giant wings beat the air. Sabine caught her breath as she watched him descend. He was a dazzling creature, the near-full moon reflecting off golden scales. His head reared back, puffs of smoke curling around his nostrils. He stretched out his talons. For one instant, Sabine thought he reached for her.

He didn't. Sabine was hidden and he was here to meet his mate, the other woman. A mist rolled in, covering them both. When it cleared, the rock circle was empty.

He had vanished, and with him, her hope of resolution. Sabine stepped toward where the dragon had landed. Had he shifted so quickly?

There was a flash of movement and she fell. A hand cupped the back of her skull before she hit the stone. A hard, heated body crushed hers. She swung her arm to strike her attacker. Her wrists were captured, her hands stretched high above her head. She screamed. There was no sound, her mouth covered. His taste was familiar, hickory, charbroiled meat. He smelled of smoke and man, a scent she craved these days past. It was Treu. She relaxed.

"Indulging in a midnight rendezvous, angel?" There was laughter on his lips yet his body tightened with tension. "I am willing to accommodate you." He scattered a trail of fervent kisses down her neck.

With his lover tardy, did he assume her a substitute? "No doubt you accommodate many, Lord Berg." She pushed up with her hips in an attempt to dislodge him.

"One, not many." He thrust back, his cock hard against her softness. "I play love games only with you, Sabine." He ground against her.

Love games. While the finding of a worthy mate plotted her life course, this was merely a game for him. "In games, there is one winner." She wiggled under him. He groaned. "Many losers."

"In this game, we will both be winners." His mouth sealed hers, his tongue plunging into her mouth, stealing her objections. He caressed her breasts, rolling her nipples between his fingers, hardening them into sensitive points. She arched, her hands gripping his shoulders. Her pussy throbbed, longing for his touch. She stroked the bulge in the front of his breeches.

"No touching." He grabbed her wrists. "My control is badly frayed this night." He spread her arms, placing her palms flat on the smooth stone. "Leave them here." She curled her fingers. "Flat." He smoothed them out again. "You will not move. If you do, I will stop. I will not touch your pussy. I will not lick your clit. Understand?"

"I understand." Already she wanted to squirm, her pussy wet, her body humming in anticipation.

He sniffed the air. "I think you do." He leisurely unlaced the front of her dress. "Did you wear this for your lover, Lady Sabine? So he could easily suck on your wonderful breasts?" He reached inside, scooping out a breast. Although she had no lover, she kept quiet. "Did he do this?" He licked a circle around her nipple.

"Please." She heard herself beg.

"Or this?" He nipped her and she squeaked. "Or perhaps this was his preference?" He sucked, his mouth hot. He pulled down the front of her dress, exposing both breasts, the neckline lifting them. "Beautiful. You have beautiful breasts, Lady Sabine." He licked the crevice between them. "Almost as beautiful as your pussy." He lifted the layers of skirts, bunching the fabric around her waist, the night air cool on her thighs. "Spread for me, angel."

"HOLIDAY HOWLZ: WEREWOLF WOES" - Dawn Montgomery
Four Cherries from Whipped Cream Reviews
If you want a story that will warm a cool winter's evening, then you need to read Holiday Howlz - Werewolf Woes.

Blurb:Pack Mentality: Alpha Bites
Sasha, the dark-eyed Russian, or Liam, the red-headed Irishman -- Jenny just can't choose. They're both amazing lovers. They're also both strong alpha wolves. It's Sasha who finally decides the three of them will make a fine pack. Now all he has to do is convince them both...Pack Mentality: Myra's Mate
Myra has had the worst luck with men. Even when Colin's pack mates Sasha and Liam assure him that Myra is the girl for him he's reluctant to say the least. He certainly doesn't expect to find her secrets so incredibly intriguing. Can these two turn a blind date into a lifetime mating?Pack Mentality: Big Bad Wolf
Kamen loves the day-to-day business of running his pack, but he's lonely and bored, and Steve smells like the perfect mate. But when the two of them get together, the pack turns on Kamen, challenging his alpha status, and his love for Steve. Is Kamen enough of a big bad wolf to keep them safe?Pack Mentality: Natural Selection
Ryan is happy working as a park ranger and living with his big bear of a lover, Loyal, but wolves are social creatures, and he misses having a pack of his own. The new pack in town has been burned before, and Kamen and the others are willing to live and let live, but when Loyal gets kidnapped, will the pack throw in with Ryan and help save him?Excerpt:This e-book file contains sexually explicit scenes and adult language which some may find offensive and which is not appropriate for a young audience. Changeling Press E-Books are for sale to adults, only, as defined by the laws of the country in which you made your purchase. Please store your files wisely, where they cannot be accessed by under-aged readers.

"I don't know, Myra," Jenny said, pacing back and forth, her arm waving wildly as she talked to her roommate on her cell phone. She was on her supper break and needed to vent. "I just can't decide which one I like better."

"Well, you're going to have to figure it out sooner or later," Myra replied.

In the background, Jenny could hear the whirr of a blender. Myra made her living off grinding up all sorts of things to make protein shakes, and she was always experimenting. "Sooner rather than later, I think. Liam doesn't seem to have a clue, but Sasha keeps... sniffing me. I think he suspects."

"He'd have to be an idiot not to." Myra chuckled, the sound merry, like the woman herself. "You can't double time guys like him. Tell them, Jen."

"I will, I will." Jenny bit her thumbnail, watching the clouds gather in the sky outside her veterinary clinic. Looked like rain. "Okay, I gotta go, My. I'll see you in a few days. After, you know."

"I do know. I'll say a prayer to the Moon Goddess for you," Myra said, like she always did. "Be safe."

"You too, honey," Jenny returned. "Later."

"Bye."

The phone flipped shut in her hand, just like that, and Jenny sighed, rolling her stiff neck and shoulders. Really, she needed to hire more help. Trying to make sure all of the animals she was keeping for observation would be safe was, well, trying. The problem wasn't the work. It was the fact that her clinic was so far out of town. No one wanted to commute out there. Hell, no one could really understand why she'd chosen the location except Myra, who knew her dirty little secret.

The small building with its food storage shed and attached dog run was hers though, and it sat on a clearing off the main highway, a patch of woods sloping up the hill behind it. Jenny went back in, smiling as the whines and barks from the dogs and meows from the cats doubled in volume.

"Gotta get you guys bedded down for the night, huh? I promise, I'll get you locked in good and I'll leave you alone.” Jenny petted this nose and that tail as she got the food storage containers out and started laying in dry food for the night. She'd be back to herself in the morning, and could come in and do it all over again.

Jonas the Rottie whined at her and Jenny went to check his sore paw, automatically glancing at the clock as she went. "Poor baby," she said, "still hurting, huh? Don't you worry. It'll heal up in no time."

Contrary to popular belief, animals weren't afraid of her. Now Sasha had caused the cats to sort of hiss and spit a little, but really, that could have been all that testosterone the man exuded as a human and had nothing to do with the other. He was all man.

So was Liam. That was the problem. They both had a lot to recommend them. Sasha had dark hair and kinda golden eyes and this deep, vaguely Russian voice. Liam had deep red hair and green eyes and the Irish lilt and... yeah, well. It was no wonder she was torn.

A shiver wracked her and Jenny hurried through the rest of the chores, soothing yelps and wags, trying to get outside before the sun went down. Just a few more minutes.